Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants Practiced by Theoraon Tribe of Jashpur District (C.G.). India

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1 Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants Practiced by Theoraon Tribe of Jashpur District (C.G.). India Ekka Mary Kusum 1, Prasad Harishankar 2, Tiwari Priti 3 1 (Research Scholar (Department of Botany) Research Centre - Government Nagarjuna (P.G.) College of Science, Raipur, PT. R.S. University, Raipur (C.G.), INDIA ) Contact No , .id - hpdrajak@gmail.com 2 (Research Scholar (Department of Botany) Research Centre - Government Nagarjuna (P.G.) College of Science, Raipur, PT. R.S. University, Raipur (C.G.), INDIA ,) Contact No , .id - hpdrajak@gmail.com 3 (Principal, Govt. Rajiv Lochan College, Rajim Dist.-Gariaband (C.G.),India) Abstract:-Medicinal plants have been observed to be very effective in the treatment of various ailments. Only few people know the location and uses of most of the plants around them due to inadequate knowledge of their usefulness. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the Oraon tribe in the remote villages of Jashpur area during 2011 to Jashpur district is situated at the eastern part of the state Chhattisgarh, India. In the present study, a venture is being made to explore the use of medicinal plants for nasal congestion, body swelling and inflammation, dermatitis, althralgia and paralysis, epistaxis, earache, constipation and dyspepsia, rheumatic joint pain, cataract, redness and conjuctivities, cuts and wounds, jaundice, spermatorrhoea, leucorrhoea, ulcer, headache, cold and fever, easy and smooth normal delivery, bone fracture, joint pain, cooling of body heat and tonic for strength purpose by the aboriginals of the district. Field study consisted of plant collection and a number of informants such as local traditional medical practitioners, traditional healers and knowledgeable elders have provided the information, in frequent field visits to those places. Total number of plant species belonging to families has been enumerated with scientific names, families, vernacular names and uses. Keywords: Chhattisgarh, Ethnobotanicals, Jashpur, Medicinal plants, Oraon-tribe, Traditional. I. Introduction Rural India is inhabitated by number of ethnic groups with their diverse cultural practices, heavily dependent on traditional system of medicine as a part of their life style. Lack of conventional medicinal infrastructure and poor economic condition enable the folk, to practice and inherit alternative systems of medicine to treat diverse types of ailments. Chhattisgarh which has diversified topography, variable climatic condition, vast forest area and large rural population including tribal communities provides an interesting area for ethnobotanical studies. The ethnic groups present in the district are Oraon, Munda, Birhor, Kanwar, Nagesia and Pahadikorwa. The tribal people speak their own language and use their knowledge on traditional medicine as they have inherited from their ancestors. II. Materials And Methods 2.1 Survey: The ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document the ethnobotanical wealth of Jashpur. Timing was adjusted on the basis of flowering and fruiting of different plants, during various seasons throughout the year. The standard ethno botanical procedure was followed as described by Dey and De, 2011a. The plants were identified by informants and the data was documented accordingly. Common plants were taken for preservation and the rare plants were photographed in their habitat. The plants were identified scientifically with the help of flora of the State ( Prain, 1903; Paria and Chattopadhyay, 2000 and 2005). III. Results The plants are used for medicine are enumerated alphabetically and the family names are given within parenthesis. The local names of the species followed by the uses of the plants are described as follows: 60 Page

2 3.1 Canasiri, Nalado. O, Cana sag (Commelinabenghalensis, Family- Commelinaceae) Leaf juice is dropped in nostril to cure epistaxis. Warm leaf juice is dropped in ear to get relief from earache. Fried leaves are consumed to cure constipation and dyspepsia. Warm leaf decoction is given to cure rheumatic joint pain. 3.2 Gajari or Kuppi (Acalyphaindica, Family- Euphorbiaceae) Plant extract is given for mouth ulcer of small babies. Take one tea spoon twice a day for three days. 3.3Hathisundha, Hathisur, Hathisund (Heliotropiumindicum, Family- Boraginaceae) Leaf juice is dropped into eyes to cure cataract, redness and conjunctivitis. Plant paste is applied on minor cuts and wounds as antiseptic for healing. The Plant paste with Risinus (Castor) oil is applied on wound to cure. 3.4 Junglipyaz or van kanda (UrgineaindicaRox, Family-Liliaceae) Bulb paste with mishri is given for leucorrhoea. 1 spoon once a day for seven days. Plant decoction is used for cooling body heat. Bulb paste cooked in oil of mahua and this oil is used for rheumatism. 3.5 Koen, Kemuk, Kewa,Keo, (Costusspeciosus, Family- Zingiberaceae) Rhizomes are squeezed and juice is obtained. 2 spoon juice is given for 3 times in a day for the treatment of jaundice. Rhizome paste is applied on the forehead for headache and fever. Rhizome juice is mixed with sugar candy and is taken in the treatment of spermatorrhoea. It is also edible. 3.6 Lion or Siliyari (Celosia argentealinn., Family- Amaranthaceae) Tender plants are used as vegetable. Flower s infusion is taken to cure leucorrhoea and uterine bleeding. Whole plant with seeds grinded and paste applied on joints to cure joint pain. 3.7 Maruwa or Mandia (Eleusinecoracana, Family- Poaceae) Pants are cultivated. Grain powder gives strength to malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. It is famine food for the tribals. Oraon women weave mat with the culm and leaves. It isedible and used for making local drink. 3.8 Mundli sag, Gorakh mundi (Sphaeranthusindicus, Family- Asteraceae) Frequent in ditches and water logged area, besides ponds and river. Plant is medicine for common cold. Plant is crushed in hand and the juice is used to which relieve nasal congestion. Also the obtained juice is applied on fore- head to cure common cold. It is edible, plant leaves washed properly by crushing and cooked vegetable. It is a tonic and gives strength to body. Leaf paste is mixed with oil and this paste is applied on the affected area of body to cure skin disease. 3.9 Nakchhikani(Centipeda minima Linn, Family- Asteraceae) Fresh plant is squeezed and inhaled to cure nasal congestion. Fresh plant paste is applied externally to subside body swelling and inflammation. Whole plant is cooked in Sesamum (til-oil), filtered and applied externally to cure dermatitis. Seed paste is applied externally to get relief from arthralgia and paralysis Pithwan, Dudhia (Urariapicta, Family-Fabaceae) Root paste applied on umbilicus and vagina for easy normal delivery. Soon after delivery, paste should be washed. The stem is folded on itself twice or thrice and is tied with thread and worn around the neck for easy and smooth normal delivery and is thrown away soon after the delivery occurs. 5 gram of root powder and two grams of turmeric powder is mixed and given for 21 days to cure bone fracture. Roots of green plants are tied with red thread and tied on the fore- head to get relief from fever. IV. Discussion A total number of 10 plants species belonging to 09 plant families are reported with their scientific name, family and vernacular name. Certain botanicals used by these tribals as remedies for various diseases among the plant families, these are listed as follows- the plant species Sphaeranthusindicus and Eleusinecoracana from family Asteraceae and Poaceae are used as to the body and common cold. Plant 61 Page

Acalyphaindica from family Euphorbiaceae is used for mouth ulcer of small babies. Plant Celosia urgenteafrom family Amaranthaceae is used for leucorrhoea and uterine bleeding.

3 Acalyphaindica from family Euphorbiaceae is used for mouth ulcer of small babies. Plant Celosia urgenteafrom family Amaranthaceae is used for leucorrhoea and uterine bleeding. Plant Celosia urgentea andcommelinabenghalensis from family Amaranthaceae and Commelinaceae are used for joint pain and rheumatic pain. Plant Urariapicta from family Fabaceae is used for smooth normal delivery and bone fracture. PlantCostus specious from family Gingiberaceae is used for treatment for jaundice, spermatorrhoea headache and fever. Minor cuts and wounds, cataract redness and conjuctivevitis are being treated by plant Heliotropiumindicum from family Boraginaceae. Treatment of apistaxis, earache, constipation and dyspepsia are being treated by plant Commelinabenghalensis from family Commelinaceae. Nasal congestion, body swelling and inflammation, althralgia and paralysis are treated by plant Centipeda minima from family Asteraceae. Plant Sphaeranthusindicus andcentipeda minima from family Asteraceae. Leucorrhoea is treated by plant Urgineaindica from family Liliaceae. General ethnobotanical practices and ethnomedicines to treat human disorders ( Jain and De, 1966; De, 1967, 1979, 1980a & b; Sur et al., 1992a; Chakrabortyet al., 2003;Chakraborty and Bhattacharjee, 2006; Gosh,2008). Kuiriet al., 2002, have reported the medicinal plants are used for rheumatism by the tribals of Purulia. Figure1: Pie Diagram Showing Distribution of Plant Families Figure 2: Distribution of Plant Parts Are Used 62 Page

Urariapicta Celosia argentea Eleusinecoracana

Acalyphaindica Figure3: Medicinal Plants Used

Conclusion From the above discussion, it is

are used for various medical ailments that

the knowledge which their ancestors have

These herbal preparations are widely being

availability and cost of medicine preparation

These herbal medications are cost effective

The new generation, can be enlightened with

4 Centipeda minima Commelinabenghalensis Heliotropiumindicum Costusspeciosus Urariapicta Celosia argentea Eleusinecoracana Sphaeranthusindicus Urgineaindica Acalyphaindica Figure3: Medicinal Plants Used By Oraon Tribe V. Conclusion From the above discussion, it is evident that a vast majority of plant parts are used for various medical ailments that tribal people of Jashpur have made good use of the knowledge which their ancestors have taught them. These herbal preparations are widely being used due to their easy assesibility and availability and cost of medicine preparation and use. These herbal medications are cost effective and free of any side effects. The new generation, can be enlightened with these age old methods of herbal medicine preparation, so that this precious knowledge is not lost with time and it can be studied for research and much more methods of herbal drug preparation for treating various diseases. 63 Page

5 Acknowledgements I am thankful to elderly people of the Oraon tribe of Jashpur for their valuable information shared regarding the ethnomedicine and healing practices and I am also thankful to my supervisor Dr. (Smt) PritiTiwari Mam Principal, Govt. Rajiv Lochan College, Rajim Dist.- Gariaband (C.G.). References [1]. Chakraborty, M.K. and Bhattacharjee, A. ( 2006): Some common ethnomedicinal uses of various diseases in Purulia district, West Bengal. Ind. J.of Traditional Knowledge,5(4): [2]. Chakraborty, M.K., Bhattacharjee, A. and Pal, D.C. ( 2006): Ethnomedicinal uses of someexotic plants of Purulia district, West Bengal. Ind. J.of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 27(3): [3]. De, J.N. (1967): Further observation on the ethnobotany of Purulia district, West Bengal. Ind.For., 95: [4]. De, J.N. (1979): Ethnobotanical study of Purulia District, West Bengal. The Eastern Anthropol.,32(3): [5]. De, J.N. (1980a): The Vegetation- based Tribal Economics in the Purulia District, West Bengal.Bull. Cult. Res. Inst., 14(1 and 2): [6]. De, J.N. (1980b): Relationship between ethnic groups (Tribal) and their plant-life in the Purulia district, West Bengal-A study. Vanyajati.28(4): [7]. Dey, A. and De, J.N. (2011a): Traditional use of medicinal plants in pediatric and maternal care practiced by the ethnic groups of Purulia district, West Bengal, India. Int. J. of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.1: [8]. Dey, A. and De, J.N. (2011a):Ethnobatanicals of the family Euphorbiaceae used by the ethnic groups of Purulia district, West Bengal, India. Life Sciences leaflets, 18: [9]. Gosh, A. (2008):Ethnomedicinal plants used in West Rarrh region of West Bengal. Nat. Prod. Radiance, 7: [10]. Jain, S.K. and De, J.N. (1966): Observations of Ethnobotany of Purulia, West Bengal. Bull. Bot. Surv. India.,8(3 and 4): [11]. Kuiri, I., Kumar, P., Kumar, K. and Kumar, J. (2002): Ethnomedicinal plants for the treatment of rheumatism at Baghmundi, Purulia(W.B.). Adv. Plant Sci., 15: [12]. Paria, N.D. and Chattopadhyay, S.P. (2000): Flora of Hazaribagh District, Bihar. Botanical Survey of India., Vol. 1. [13]. Paria, N.D. and Chattopadhyay, S.P. (2005): Flora of Hazaribagh District, Bihar. Botanical Survey of India., Vol. 2. [14]. Prain, D. (1903): Bengal Plants. Botanical Survey of India.,Vol [15]. Sur, P.R., Sen, R. and Halder, A.C. (1992a):Ethnobotanical study of Puruliadistrct, West Bengal. Ind. J.of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, Addl. Ser., 10: Page

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY AND LIFE SCIENCES

International Journal of Institutional Pharmacy and Life Sciences 4(5): September-October 2014 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY AND LIFE SCIENCES Pharmaceutical Sciences Original Article!!!